Monday, 7 January

After ysterday's weak cop out, I was keen to make up for it with a 50 minute LSD run at lunchtime on the first day back at work for the year

I foolishly emailed Shane Jansen, AFL Boundary Umpire, to find out what he was up to and he said he was just going for a slow run ahead of AV Shield tomorrow night at Aberfeldie. So I made arrangements to meet him and his mate Scotty Hutton - also an AFL B/U - at 12:15

We started off at a nice pace through the throng of city foot traffic until we got clear on St Kilda Road. This is where the pace picked up a bit and I was darting a few glances at my watch. We ran down to Fawkner Park (Toorak Road end), back to the Tan for a 3/4 lap of that, then back off towards the city

As it was only about 40 mins by my watch, I let the boys go at Princes Bridge and headed east along the river for five minutes on the Birrarung Marr side to the Swan St bridge before doubling back for the office. All up exactly 50 minutes

It was a pretty solid run, certainly more solid than I would usually do for an LSD. I guestimated the pace to be around the 4:15 - 4:30 mark. Last year when I was fit I would have got through this pretty well but now that I don't have any miles in the legs I can see that solid sessions like these are going to be tough to get through. Can remember one two hour session last year where I did 4:15's the whole way and this felt harder than that

It was however a very good hit out and will definitely hook up with the boys again soon. Have to try get to work early enough that I can spend that 90 mins away from the office. Instead of trailing the two guys and letting them do all the hard work, I am pretty keen to share the load a bit more next time

I felt really good afterwards and am looking forward to athletics tomorrow night. Its the 800 and 3000 metres on the program, although no doubt I will fit in the 100 metres, Relay and 400 metres too. Looking for a 2:15 from my 800 and around 80 second laps for my 3 k for 10:00

TOTAL DISTANCE = about 11 kilometres